The reality is that we are getting older. I am getting older, my wife, who is 7 years younger than I am, is getting older. My parents are getting older and the reality is, that each day is more a challenge, especially for them.

My parents, who are divorced and remarried both have fallen in the last few months/days. My father had a major knee surgery and is required to now stay off of his leg for 6 weeks. My mom fell last week and broke her ankle and the physician took one look at her x-ray and they immediately scheduled surgery, as the ankle was broken on both sides.

I live 6 hours away from my parents and the reality is that I need to be closer to help take care of them. I was already scheduled to be down there in 2 weeks, but this might require two separate trips. I haven’t been super close with my family since I moved away 20 years ago, not to say that I don’t talk with my parents, which I do, a lot or that I don’t love them, I do. But for the first time, it hit me that I really need to be closer to them and be there when they fall, need help recovering after surgery, etc.

Our reality is a new one, my parents are getting older, my last two grandparents are getting much older, as both turn 90 this year. Today has been a rough day trying to coordinate with physicians, the nurses at the physicians office, talking about the surgery that my mother needs, recovery, etc. This might ultimately fast track a move closer to my family, as they will need more help going forward and I’ll need to be closer to them.